Biomedical subjects

M Kundi

Publications and source records attributed to M Kundi.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMed1994

Different patterns of light exposure in relation to melatonin and cortisol rhythms and sleep of night workers.

There is strong evidence to suggest that circadian psychophysiological adaptation processes are modified by light, depending on its intensity and timing. To characterize such modifications and determine whether they are associated with an alteration in the day/night pattern of melatonin excretion, measurements were obtained around the clock in 14 permanent night workers, each studied over a 48 hr period in the field. The light exposure behavior of these workers was studied with a newly developed light dosimetry by measuring light intensity at eye level. Physical activity was continuously registered and sleep indices were obtained by sleep logs and activity markings. Circadian rhythms of melatonin and cortisol were analysed from salivary samples collected for 24 hr at 2 hr intervals. The interindividual variation of melatonin acrophase determined by cosinor analysis was greater than 180 degrees (from around midnight to noon) and that of cortisol was about 135 degrees (from early morning to afternoon). Hormonal phase positions coincided significantly with light exposure: the more bright light pulses in the morning (maximum lux between 0600 and 0900), the less were the melatonin and cortisol acrophases shifted into the day. There was also a negative correlation between melatonin acrophase shift and duration of the overall light exposure above 1500 lux. Morning light maximum and sleep onset correlated highly significantly. Night workers were divided into those with less than ('non-shifters', n = 9) and more than 6 hr deviation from midnight ('shifters', n = 5) of the melatonin acrophase. The group comparison revealed a marked difference of the mean melatonin concentrations at night, and at 0700.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMed1994

[Lung function reference values for students 6 to 16 years of age].

The diagnosis of lung function impairments in childhood is based on a variety of reference values. The assessment of "normal" function and growth of lung and airways in pediatric and environmental investigations is biased. The detection of small airway disease at an early stage is based on flow volume measurements, however, reference values in Europe relied on small and highly selected groups of children. We examined 18,106 children and adolescents aged 6 to 16 years at their schools by standardized methods. After exclusion of children with poor cooperation, respiratory signs or symptoms and active smokers, regression analysis was applied for FVC, FEV1, PEF, MEF75, MEF50, MEF25, and MMEF predicted from standing height, sex, age and weight. Means and standard deviations (SD) of lung function parameters of healthy Austrian school children are presented as a basis for reference. Individual lung function can thus be evaluated in SD-scores. Flow measures representing small airway functions were found higher in adolescent girls. MEF25 showed the highest variability unexplained by anthropometric characteristics. The new reference values improve available tools for early detection of respiratory diseases and dysfunctions in children and adolescents and they should help to evaluate environmental and other factors influencing function and growth of lung and airways.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1993

Kinetics of specific IgG antibodies for monitoring the effect of anti-Helicobacter pylori chemotherapy.

A total of 104 patients with recurrent duodenal ulcer were treated with either ranitidine plus amoxicillin plus metronidazole or ranitidine plus placebo. To study the effect of the eradication of Helicobacter pylori on the systemic immune response in an IgG ELISA, sera were drawn from all patients before the onset of therapy and at 6, 16 +/- 2, 32 +/- 2, and 60 +/- 2 weeks after therapy. In patients with eradication of the organism, a significant (P < .001) reduction of the specific IgG titer occurred. This was not observed in patients without bacterial eradication. If a titer reduction of > 50% was taken as an indicator for eradication of H. pylori, the sensitivity of the serologic test was 97.6%-99.7%. Its specificity increased with the interval to the onset of chemotherapy from 56.3% to 97.6%. Serologic tests are simple to perform and cause very little discomfort to the patient.

Amoxicillin↗

PubMed1993

Evaluation of the polymerase chain reaction for diagnosis of herpes simplex virus encephalitis.

Cerebrospinal fluid samples from 257 patients with suspected herpes simplex virus encephalitis were prospectively analyzed by herpes simplex virus polymerase chain reaction. The polymerase chain reaction indicated herpes simplex virus encephalitis in 9 serologically proven cases and in 14 additional patients. Increased polymerase chain reaction signals were observed together with more severe neurological symptoms (P < 0.01) and within the first days of acyclovir treatment (P < 0.05).

Acyclovir↗

PubMed1993

Personal light dosimetry in permanent night and day workers.

Light exposure was measured in six day and six night watches (working 12-hour shifts five days in a row) during 48 h on work days and 48 h on days off using a photocell with a sensitivity corresponding to photopic vision. The photocell was mounted on a frame of spectacles, thus measuring in viewing direction. Light exposure was low both in night and day watches; however, in night watches exposures were significantly lower: On work days, night watches spent a mean of 13 min above 1,500 lx, day watches 52 min; on days off, night watches spent 3 min above 1,500 lx but day watches 89 min. Unexpectedly, night watches had no higher exposure during days off. We suspect that this is due to a light avoidance tendency in permanent night workers. High negative correlations between the acrophases of subjective state (e.g., alertness and mood) and light exposure in night watches indicate that bright light would probably increase desynchronization between subjective state, sleep, and activity.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

[Connection between air quality and room climate and estimation of dwellings by health-impaired inhabitants].

The investigation was performed in winter 1990 and 1991 when measurements were taken in 16 dwellings of patients, recruited from a pulmologic outpatient centre. Patients suffered from repeated respiratory irritations which they attributed to dwelling conditions. Inhabitants reported by means of questionnaires and standardized scales the dwelling situation and their dwelling behaviour, subjective ratings of indoor environmental quality as well as ratings of wellbeing. The load of indoor pollutants (CO2, CO, NO2, HCHO), biological agents (fungal spores, house dust mites) as well as indoor climate factors were assessed. The measurements revealed an evident load at least in one parameter; in the majority of dwellings combined loads of air pollutants and biological agents were apparent. Homes supplied with gas as main energy source had significantly higher concentrations of CO2, CO and NO2. At noon, exposure limits of CO2 and NO2 were frequently exceeded. Inhabitants of homes being supplied with electricity instead of gas gave significantly better air quality ratings. The correlations between the average score concerning the rated health quality of their homes and the rate of excess of exposure limits are significant: The health quality ratings are significantly related to the concentrations of "air quality indicators", which induce the feeling of stale air (CO2) and mucosa irritations (NO2). Ratings of wellbeing are significantly connected to objective parameters, i.e. NO2 baseline load, fungal spores in the air and the difference between wall-air temperature. Our study suggests that people suspecting a connection between their health impairment and dwelling conditions should be taken serious. The measurement program proved to be a suitable screening procedure to assess adverse environmental influences in homes. More homes should be investigated to further support our findings.

Air Pollution, Indoor↗

PubMed1993

Microcirculation of nailfold capillaries in chronic hemodialysis patients with and without diabetes mellitus.

The present study was intended to determine whether hemodialysis patients with arteriovenous fistula showed changes of microcirculation in the upper extremity. In addition, the study was to show whether such changes were correlated to the shunt parameters, such as the shunt flow volume, and whether the presence of diabetes mellitus had any additional influence. The study included 43 patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis; ten of the 43 patients were diabetics. Morphological and hemodynamic parameters of microcirculation were determined using quantitative capillaroscopy, flow volume in the brachial artery and shunt flow were measured by means of pulsed Doppler ultrasonography. While the morphological microcirculatory parameters did not show any differences between shunt arm and contralateral side, statistically significant differences were seen for resting blood cell velocity and for the time to peak capillary blood cell velocity after reactive hyperemia. For the latter a correlation to the shunt flow volume could also be demonstrated for nondiabetic patients. As expected, the time to peak blood cell velocity after reactive hyperemia was prolonged in both arms of patients with diabetes mellitus. Apparently, diabetes mellitus had a more pronounced effect on hemodynamic parameters than the Cimino shunt. This and the shunt flow will result in a Raynaud symptomatology. Other symptoms associated with chronic hemodialysis are mainly related to the duration of hemodialysis.

Arm↗

PubMed1992

Recovery kinetics after chemotherapy and circulating mononuclear cells expressing the CD34 antigen in pediatric cancer patients.

Hematopoietic progenitor cells collected from the peripheral blood are capable of restoring hematopoiesis after myeloablative therapy. The numbers of circulating mononuclear cells expressing the CD34 antigen were calculated and the colony-forming capacity was determined in 26 blood samples, which were drawn during rapid rise of leukocytes after chemotherapy cycles that were followed by aplasia. Culture assay after 14 days revealed a median 507 (210-2029) myeloid progenitors (CFU-GEMM/GM) per 10(5) nucleated cells (NC) in 13 CD34-positive samples, and only a median 76 (9-224) in 13 CD34-negative ones (p less than 0.001). Median 343 (175-2450) erythroid burst-forming units (BFU-E) per 10(5) NC were detected in the CD34-positive samples, whereas only 72 (10-315) per 10(5) NC were found in the negative ones (p less than 0.01). The percentage of CD34-positive cells clearly correlated with the growth of CFU-GEMM/GM and BFU-E (p less than 0.01). The content of CD34-positive cells in circulation was determined within 120 min by FACS analysis and predicted colony-forming capacity of circulating mononuclear cells. These observations will help to select the optimal individual days for leukaphereses.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Molecular epidemiology of tick-borne encephalitis virus: cross-protection between European and Far Eastern subtypes.

Tick-borne encephalitis virus isolates from widely separated geographic regions of the USSR, six isolates from Hungary and one from France were compared with the European and Far Eastern prototype viruses. Peptide mapping by limited proteolysis yielded similar patterns for five selected isolates from the USSR. All isolates from Hungary and France exhibited the same reactivity pattern with a panel of 16 protein E-specific monoclonal antibodies, whereas 10 out of 12 isolates from the Soviet Union showed minor differences at certain epitopes. However, no correlation between geographic origin of the isolates and their antigenic structure was observed. No statistically significant difference in the degree of protection was detected when mice were immunized with the European prototype vaccine and challenged with three selected Asian isolates and one from the European part of the USSR.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Detection of circulating endogenous interleukin-3 in extensive chronic graft-versus-host disease.

Recent data suggest that activated immune cells and their products are involved in the initiation and progression of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). To test whether the production of endogenous interleukin-3 (IL-3), a product of activated immune cells, might be an indicator of disease activity in GVHD, we analysed sera of 61 bone marrow transplant (BMT) recipients for IL-3 levels by using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Measurable levels (greater than 25 pg/ml) of endogenous IL-3 were detected in a significant subgroup (5/16 patients, 31.25%) of allograft recipients suffering from extensive chronic GVHD, but not in patients with limited chronic GVHD (n = 6) or in those without signs of chronic GVHD (n = 17). In IL-3 positive patients, IL-3 levels were not associated with pathologic conditions (such as infectious disease) other than GVHD. IL-3 levels were undetectable in disease-free phases preceding severe chronic GVHD. Lower levels of IL-3 were measured in chronic GVHD patients during extensive disease while on high dose steroid medication compared with before and/or after (p less than 0.02). IL-3 was also detected in a small group (2/17) of patients suffering from acute GVHD. IL-3 could neither be detected in syngeneic (n = 3) nor autologous (n = 7) BMT recipients nor in the vast majority (99/100) of healthy controls. Together, measurable amounts of IL-3 are produced in a significant subgroup of patients suffering from extensive chronic GVHD.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1991

Arterial baroreflex sensitivity and blood pressure variabilities before and after carotid surgery.

Carotid surgery is frequently associated with postoperative blood pressure alterations. The role of baroreceptors with regard to these alterations was assessed in 50 patients by determining the pre- and postoperative mechanoreceptor sensitivity after Valsalva maneuver and intravenous injections of angiotensin and nitroglycerine as described by Smyth, Sleight and Pickering. In addition, blood pressure was monitored perioperatively and renin and aldosterone levels were measured. In patients with arterial hypertension a postoperative increase of receptor reactivity can be seen necessitating a reduction of antihypertensive therapy in more than 50% of cases. In normotensive patients no uniform response can be observed. A possible explanation for this effect might be the local increase of pressure in the operated vascular segment. The postoperative reintegration of receptor areas which had been adjusted to a reduced pressure level might induce a more sensitive response than can be seen for the remaining receptors, which usually are less responsive in hypertensive patients.

Aged↗

PubMed1991

Respiratory tract infections due to different rhinovirus serotypes and the influence of maternal antibodies on the clinical expression of the disease in infants.

Rhinoviruses were isolated from nasopharyngeal secretions of 49 children hospitalized because of severe respiratory tract infection. The isolates were typed using 90 type-specific antisera. No obvious relation between certain serotypes and the severity of illness was found. Serum samples were drawn from all children simultaneously with the nasopharyngeal secretions and screened for the presence of type-specific neutralizing antibodies. Children aged 1 week to 6 months had higher neutralizing antibody titers and revealed a lower degree of morbidity than older children. The decline of neutralizing serum antibodies with increasing age was correlated with a higher incidence of severe disease in those aged 7-12 months. Nevertheless, also in this age group children with mild clinical courses of disease were observed despite a low concentration or an absence of neutralizing serum antibodies. This indicates that not only neutralizing serum antibodies, but other factors also influence the clinical expression of RHV-induced disease.

Antibodies, Viral↗

PubMed1991

Intestinal worm burden and serum cholesterol or lipid concentration in a Shipibo population (Peru).

Paired samples of stool and serum of 32 members of the Shipibo tribe resident in the rain forest of the Peruvian lowlands were tested for worm egg count and serum lipid parameters, respectively. 90% of the stool samples tested were found to contain eggs or larvae of several worm species, most commonly 3 or 4 different species. Serum lipid levels were found to be relatively low, most probably due to a low proportion of dietary fat ranging from 16-31%. Statistical analysis showed a significant inverse correlation between worm egg excretion and HDL levels which was true for hookworm, strongyloides and trichuris, but not for ascaris. The mechanisms underlying the observed association between intestinal worm load and HDL reduction are not completely understood and may include reduced HDL synthesis in the gut wall due to inflammatory and/or toxic irritation.

Cholesterol↗

PubMed1990

Surveillance of viral respiratory tract infections over a one year period in mainly hospitalized Austrian infants and children by a rapid enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay diagnosis.

In order to obtain more information on viral respiratory tract infections in Austrian infants and children, nasopharyngeal secretions from 1432 infants and children, collected from October 1984 to October 1985, were screened for the presence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenoviruses, parainfluenza virus type 1, 2, and 3, and influenza viruses type A and B, by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results obtained were analyzed with respect to incidence, seasonal distribution and clinical syndromes associated with the different viral pathogens investigated and also with the practicability of ELISA diagnostics over long distances. A viral etiology of acute respiratory tract infection was confirmed in 372 (26%) infants. RSV was detected in 286 (20%) of the nasal secretions and was thus the most frequently encountered agent. RSV infections occurred mainly in the winter months and were often associated with bronchitis, bronchiolitis, and pneumonia. Only sporadic infections were found with one of the other viruses investigated.

Adenoviruses, Human↗

PubMed1990

Individual asbestos exposure: smoking and mortality--a cohort study in the asbestos cement industry.

A historical prospective cohort study comprised all persons employed from 1950 to 1981 for at least three years in the oldest asbestos cement factory in the world. From 2816 persons eligible for the study, record based estimates and measurements of dust and fibres and histories of smoking based on interviews were used to calculate individual exposures over time. After observation of 51,218 person-years and registration of 540 deaths, underlying causes of death for this cohort were compared with those for the regional population on the basis of death certificates. Deaths from lung cancer in asbestos cement workers were higher (standard mortality ratio (SMR) 1.7), but after adjustment for age and sex specific smoking habits this was not significant (SMR 1.04). The study had a probability of greater than 92% of detecting a smoking adjusted SMR of 1.5 or more. Using the best available evidence (including necropsy records) 52 deaths were assigned to lung cancer and five to mesothelioma. Life table analyses confirmed the predominant influence of smoking on lung cancer. Mesothelioma was associated with the use of crocidolite in pipe production. From present working conditions with much lower concentrations of chrysotile and no crocidolite no more occupational cancers are expected in the asbestos cement industry.

Asbestos↗

PubMed1990

The median rise of leucocytes predicts the optimal days for leukapheresis in children.

22 consecutive patients with a median age of 11 years (range 3-23) underwent 103 leucaphereses after a chemotherapy induced aplasia. They suffered from various solid tumors and hematological malignancies. The stem cell yield of 69 aphereses which were done during the 8 days following the first platelet rise, was median 1.02 x 10(4) myeloid committed stem cells (CFU-GM)/kg/apheresis (range 0.02-13.3), whereas only 0.27 x 10(4) CFU-GM/kg/apheresis (range 0.01-1.11) were obtained in 34 "random" collections (p less than .05). The CFU-GM yield of 69 "well timed" collections depended on the absolute number of circulating leucocytes (p = .002) and mononuclear cells (p less than .001). The median daily increment of leucocytes was a reliable predictor of the stem cell yield (p = .002) and could be used to select the optimal days for leucaphereses during the well timed period. By careful timing alone high stem cell numbers could be collected in various malignancies without using exogenous growth factors.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1990

Occupational dust exposure and cancer mortality--results of a prospective cohort study.

Over the period 1950-60, occupational and smoking histories were collected in the course of the preventive medical examinations of 247,064 workers in Vienna. Of these, 1630 male workers aged greater than or equal to 40 were selected because of their occupational exposure to silica and 'inert' dusts, and were matched for age, time at which observation was begun, and smoking with 1630 subjects from the same source but without such exposure. Follow-up of 99.8% of the members of these two cohorts resulted in 60,237 person-years of observation, while identification of the underlying cause of death for 98.8% of them (by autopsy in greater than 50%) up to the end of 1985 showed a significantly higher mortality from lung cancer in dust-exposed subjects (179 cases) as compared with those not so exposed (141 cases) and with the local population (standardized mortality ratio (SMR 169). This excess lung cancer mortality was found in all subgroups (SMR in foundries 164, other metal industries 133, ceramics and glass 237, stone and construction 294), consistent with the hypothesis that long-term heavy occupational exposure to silica and 'inert' dusts promotes lung cancer. The only other cancer site for which the number of cases was significantly greater in those exposed to dust was the stomach (SMR 166).

Adult↗

PubMed1990

The median daily increment of leukocytes during hematopoietic recovery reflects the myeloid progenitor cell yield during leukapheresis in children.

Twenty-two consecutive patients with a median age of 11 years (range 3-23) underwent 103 leukaphereses for collection of peripheral stem cells. They suffered from various solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. Our aim was to collect at least 2.5 x 10(4) myeloid committed stem cells (CFU-GM) per kg body weight. This stem cell number has reliably resulted in rapid and sustained hematopoietic reconstitution after autografting in our institution. Peripheral stem cell mobilization was induced by myelosuppressive therapy alone. If the stem cell collections were started at the first platelet rise and were continued during the following 8 days, the stem cell yield of one procedure was high - median 1.02 x 10(4) CFU-GM/kg body weight (range 0.02-13.3). In 69 such 'well-timed' collections, a median of only 4 leukaphereses (range 2-6) were needed to collect high numbers of CFU-GM. The yield from leukaphereses carried out at any other time was unsatisfactory. In 34 'random' collections, a median of only 0.27 x 10(4) CFU-GM/kg body weight (range 0.01-1.11) was obtained in one procedure. In 69 well-timed collections the CFU-GM yield depended on the absolute number of circulating leukocytes (r = 0.369, p = 0.002) and mononuclear cells (r = 0.476, p less than 0.001). The median daily increment of leukocytes to the day of apheresis proved to be an excellent parameter for the prediction of the yield and could be used to select the best days for leukaphereses (r = 0.403, p = 0.002). These findings may help to make the collection of blood-derived stem cells more efficient in pediatric patients.

Adolescent↗